Cigarette dispensing device



June 26, 1934. R. RAPELLIN CIGARETTE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed 001:. 9, 1931 Z VVE/VTUE Fe ne' Ba. 622171 47' TUBA/5Y5.

Patented June 26, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE CIGARETTE DISPENSING DEVICE Ren Rapellin, San Gabriel, Calif.

Application October 9, 1931, Serial No. 567,880

14 Claims. (Cl. 20641) My invention relates to a device in which a package of cigarettes may be placed and in which said device is utilized to dispense one or more of the cigarettes from one edge of the package and after dispensing the cigarette or cigarettes adjacent one edge, the other cigarettes are automatically thrust to the same edge for subsequent dispensing.

Another object and feature of my invention is a construction by which the package of cigarettes in the wrapper with certain parts of the wrapper torn or cut may be inserted in the device and firmly held therein in such a manner that the cigarettes will not ordinarily become crushed.

My invention, therefore, contemplates as certain of its features a device for firmly engaging and holding the wrapper of the package so that the cigarettes are maintained in an aligned position in such package for dispensing.

Another detail feature of my invention comprises a slidable lift which on a newly opened package engages the lower ends of the cigarettes nearest one edge and by operating this lift such cigarettes may be elevated to a suflicient extent to allow ready withdrawal of one or more at a time.

Another feature relating to the automatic shifting of the cigarettes comprises a shiftable partition actuated by a spring. This partition engages the cigarettes on the opposite edge of the package and shifts them toward the dispensing edge on release of the cigarettes at such latter edge, such spring being guided on a rod located at the bottom of the holding device.

My invention is illustrated in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the dispensing device with a package of cigarettes therein;

Fig. 2 is a vertical elevation taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is an under view taken in direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the lower right hand corner as shown in Fig. 2 with the shiftable partition at its extreme outside position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the device, omitting the cigarette package.

The dispensing device has a holder structure ll'which employs a base plate 12 with two side flanges 13 and 14. Extending upwardly from the base plate there is an outside edge plate 15, this also having two side flanges 16, 17. An inside edge plate 18 extends upwardly from the end of the base plate 12 opposite the end plate 15. This is pointed or has a relatively sharp knife-like edge 19 at the top. There is a space 20 between the edges of this plate and the flanges l3 and 14. A casing 21 shown slightly more than semi-circular is attached to the bottom of the base 12, this casing having lateral flanges 22 for securing with screws or rivets. Such casing has a plug 23 at one end and another plug 24 at the opposite end. The plug 24 has a smooth perforation 25 and the plug 23 has a screw threaded perforation 26. A guide rod 27 extends through the perforation 25 and has an inner screw threaded end 28 threaded in the plug 23 engaging the threads 26. This rod has a head 29 with a screw driver kerf to facilitate tightening the screw threaded end.

A lift 30 employs a vertical slot 31 in the outside edge plate 15. A sliding plate 32 fits inside of the channel formed by the edge plate 15 and its two flanges 16 and 17 and this is at the upper portion substantially the full width of this channel to form a guide. A downwardly extending leg 33 has a lifting shoe 34 connected thereto and extending at right angles inwardly along the base 12 and designed in its lower position to rest on such base. A stud 35 is secured to the upper portion of the plate 32 and extends through the slot 31 having an operating head 36 to be engaged by the fingers or thumb.

A package clamping device is designated by the assembly number 37 and employs a flat spring arm 38, which arm at the bottom has a perforation and is pivoted on the rod 27 as indicated at 39. Its upper end is provided with a perforating pin 40, which pin extends inwardly and has an op- .90 erating head 41 on the outside for engagement by the fingers. This pin may extend into a perforation .42 in the inside edge plate 18.

The automatic shifting mechanism for the cigarettes to displace these laterally is indicated 5 by the assembly numeral 43. This has a sleeve 44 surrounding the rod 27, which sleeve has a closed abutment end 45 and is open at its opposite end with a coiled spring 46 fitted in the sleeve and bearing against the end plug 25. The base 12 has a longitudinal slot 47 which extends from end to end, this base having a raised end section 48,

and extending upwardly through this slot there is a substantial arm 49 which has a thin partition 50 extending thereabove, the partition being substantially the same width as the inside end plate 18. This partition 50 is curved at its upper end 51. It will, therefore, be seen that this coiled spring tends to force the partition from a position toward the dispensing lift30. .110

In order to manipulate the spring and partition a narrow stud 52 is connected to the sleeve 44 and extends downwardly through a longitudinal slot 53 in the bottom of the casing 21 and may be engaged by the fingers for compressing the spring and moving the partition toward the inside edge plate 18. In order to lock this partition at its extreme position with the spring compressed, a pivoted latch 54 is employed, being pivoted to the stud 42. This latch may be in the form of a link and engages in a transverse notch 55 in the casing, such notch intersecting the slot 53, thereby holding the spring compressed with the sleeve 44 and the partition 50 supported thereby at the extreme right hand side of the device, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5.

The package of cigarettes must e partly cut or torn for insertion in the device, which necessitates cutting off the lower end, leaving the lower ends 56 of the cigarettes 57 exposed. The top end covering is indicated at 58. This must have an opening 59 formed therein by tearing the end slightly to allow for the dispensing of the cigarettes. There must also be a cutout section 60 in the edge 61 of the package which fits inside of the outside edge plate 15 and inside of the plate 32 of the lift. This cut or vertical slit is to accommodate the lifting and lowering shoe 34, which shoe extends underneath the lower edge 56 of the cigarettes.

The cigarette package thus cut or torn is inserted in the device, preferably by holding the package with the end 58 downwardly and with the exposed ends 56 of the cigarettes upwardly. The partition is in the position shown in Figs. 4 and5 and the inside edge plate 18 is thrust inside of the edge 62 of the package; also the par tition 51 is thrust inside of the package, the partition and the edge plate 18 fitting between the cigarettes and the edge covering of the package.

During this insertion of these parts of the device in the package the resilient arm 38 is swung to one side, the perforating pin 40 being withdrawn from the perforation 42 in the plate 18 and after the package is in position this arm is swung to such a position as to align the pin 40 at the perforation 42 and the pin is forced inwardly by pressing on the upper end of the spring arm 38, thus perforating the edge covering 62 of the package as indicated at 63. This, therefore, securely attaches the package to the holding and dispensing device and the device may then be turned with the end 58 up, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the illustration a standard type of package is shown in which there are usually cigarettes arranged with three transverse of the package and a number of rows according to the size of the package. The cigarettes in the edge of the package accommodated in the outside plate 15 and its flanges 16 and 17 rest on the shoe 34 of the lift 30 and, as above mentioned, when the device is attached to the package or the package fitted in the device, the partition is at its extreme retracted position and held by the latch 54. The edge cigarettes may then be dispensed by pushing upwardly on the button 36 of the stud 35 and thus raising the lift 30. The projecting upper ends of one or more of these edge cigarettes may then be engaged by the fingers and lifted from the package. If the others are not wanted they may be thrust back into the package on lower ing the lift. After all of the end group of the cigarettes are dispensed, the latch 54 is released, causing the spring 46 to thrust the sleeve 44 and its partition 50 toward the dispensing side of the device, moving all of the cigarettes in the package and forcing the ones closest to the dispensing end on to the shoe 34 so that they, likewise, may be dispensed by elevating the lift. This action may continue until all of the cigarettes in the package are dispensed, then the paper of the package may be discarded by disengaging the pin 40 from the perforation 63 in the edge 62 of the package covering and such covering may readily be pulled away from the end plates 15 or 18. The lower marginal portion 64 of the sides 65 of the package fit snugly against the flanges 13 and 14 on the inside and extend through the spaces 20 between these fianges and each side of the edge plate 18.

In the specification and claims where I have designated the package or cigarette package, this is intended to include the cigarettes and the wrapper containing the same.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cigarette dispensing device comprising a holder having means to engage the outside of an edge and an end of a package and to engage inside of the other edge, with a clamping device to engage the package at the exposed edge, a slidable lift with means to operate same to elevate one or more cigarettes at a time for dispensing.

2. A cigarette dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, a movable partition shiftable in relation to the holding structure and engaging the cigarette in the package to move said cigarettes toward said lift.

3. A cigarette dispensing device comprising a holder having a base and an end plate to engage the bottom and an edge of a cigarette package, a second plate connected to the base to engage inside of the package adjacent the other edge, a lift slidably connected to the first plate and having a shoe engaing the lower ends of one or more cigarettes, the operation of the lift projecting the upper ends of such cigarettes above the top of the .package.

4. A cigarette dispensing device as claimed in claim 3, a partition slidably mounted on the base and parallel to the first and second plates, and means to move said partition to shift the cigarettes toward the lift.

5. A cigarette dispensing device comprising a holder having a base, a first end plate to engage an edge of a package, a second end plate to engage inside of the opposite edge of the package, the base and the first plate having inwardly turned flanges to engage the marginal portions of the package, there being spaces adjacent the second plate for passage of the sides of the package, a clamping device to clamp one edge of the package to the second plate, and means operatively connected to the first plate to dispense cigarettes.

6. A cigarette dispensing device as claimed in claim 5, the means to dispense cigarettes comprising a lift having a plate slidably mounted in the first plate and having a shoe connected thereto, with means to raise and lower said plate and shoe, the shoe engaging the lower end of one or more cigarettes and lifting the upper end above the top of the package.

'7. A cigarette dispensing device as claimed in claim 5, the means to dispense cigarettes comprising a lift having a plate slidably mounted in the first plate and having a shoe connected thereto, with means to raise and lower said plate and shoe, the shoe engaging the lower end of one or more cigarettes and lifting the upper end above the top of the package, and a partition slidably mounted on the base and extending parallel to the cigarettes, with a spring means to urge said partition toward said lift.

8. A cigarette dispensing devicecomprising a holder having a base, an end plate at right angles thereto, the base and the plate having inwardly turned flanges, the base being adapted to receive a package with the lower end cut off and with a slit in the edge and an opening in the top end, means to attach said holder to the package, a lift having a slidable plate mounted on the end plate and having a shoe to engage the lower end of one or more cigarettes, the elevating of the lift projecting the upper ends of such cigarettes above the top of the package.

9. A cigarette dispensing device as claimed in claim 8, having, in addition, a casing connected to the base, said base having a slot with a partition mounted in the casing and extending through the slot, the partition engaging the sides of the cigarettes remote from the lift, and a spring in the casing urging the partition toward the lift.

10. The combination comprising a holder having means to clamp the wrapper of a package of cigarettes with cigarettes therein, a slidable partition extending into the package from one end and engaging the sides of the cigarettes, means to urge the partition from a first toward a second edge of the package, and a dispensing device to dispense cigarettes from said second edge.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, the dispensing device comprising a lift with a shoe slidably connected to the holder, the shoe engaging the lower ends of cigarettes and on elevation by the lift projecting the upper ends above the top of the package, the wrapper having an opening in one edge to permit operation of the shoe.

12. In a cigarette dispensing device, the combination of a holder having a base, a first end plate at one end, and a second end plate at the opposite end, the first end plate and the base having inwardly turned flanges with a space between the flanges of the base and the second plate, a cigarette package having its lower end covering removed and having a portion of the upper end removed and a vertical cutout portion in one of the edges, said package being inserted in the holder with the edge having a cutout portion fitting against the first plate, said second plate fitting inside of the opposite edge of the packagaa clamp comprising a spring with a perforating pin, the pin extending through the end of the package engaged by the second plate, said second plate having a hole to receive said pin, means to move the cigarettes laterally in the package from the second plate toward the first plate, and a sliding dispensing means mounted on the first plate to shift the cigarettes outwardly through the opening in the upper end of the package.

13. In a cigarette dispensing device as claimed in claim 12, means to shift the cigarettes laterally and to dispense same, including a casing secured to the base, said base having a longitudinal slot, a rod extending through the casing and having a sleeve slidably mounted thereon with a partition extending upwardly through the slot, said partition engaging cigarettes adjacent the second plate, a spring urging the partition toward the first plate, a slidable lift comprising a plate and a shoe slidably mounted on the first plate, the shoe engaging the lower ends of the cigarettes.

14. A cigarette dispensing device comprising a holder having a base with a longitudinal slot, and a first end plate with a vertical slot, the base and the end plate having inwardly turned flanges, a second end plate parallel to the first, there being a space between the second plate and the flanges of the base, a casing secured to the base and having a rod extending therethrough with a sleeve slidably mounted thereon, and a partition connected to the sleeve and extending through the slot in the base, a lift comprising a sliding plate with a shoe connected thereto, and means extending through the slot of the first plate to operate said sliding plate, a clamping means comprising a leaf spring pivotally mounted on the rod and having a perforating pin, there being a perforation in the second plate to accommodate said pin.

RENE RAPELLIN. 

